Spray nozzle for liquid storage tanks



July 21, 1959 D. A. SEIBERLING ETAL 2,895,688

SPRAY NOZZLE FOR LIQUID STORAGE-TANKS Filed Dec. 28, 1956 INVENTORS fiale A. ,S'ezlez'lz'n ATTORNEY United States Patent Dale A. Seiberling, Columbus, and Frank W. Wish, Bellefontaine, Ohio Application December 28, 1956, Serial No. 631,206

4 Claims. (Cl. 239-559 This invention relates to a spraying system. It has to do, more specifically, with a spraying system that includes a novel type of spray head or nozzle and associated supporting and fluid-supplying conduit.

It is difiicult to clean the interiors of tanks which are used for the storage of milk, oil or various other substances. Ordinarily, it is necessary for a man to enter such a tank and use high-pressure hosesor hoses supply ing detergents, etc. to spray the interior of the tank, or manually scrub the tank surfaces. Obviously, entrance and exit is difficnlt and if the tank is to remain sterile,

for example in the case of a dairy tank, it is difiicult to keep it sterileas the man leaves the tank. Furthermore, the cleaning operation is dangerous for theman'in the tank when cleaning certain types of tanks where gases remain and in using certain types of irritating or poisonous detergents or cleaning substances. However, when permanent spraying systems are associated with such tanks according to the prior art, it is diflicult to maintain such systems clean in themselves. Furthermore, with such prior art systems it is difiicult to obtain the desired spray patterns within the tank.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a spraying system which includes a novel spray heador nozzle construction, which provides desired spray patterns, and which is supported in a novel manner by a conduit that supplies the fluid to .be sprayed, the head and conduit being so associated that cleaning of the system is facilitated.

Another object is to provide a self cleaning spray nozzle construction composed of a pair of cooperative hemispherical, hollow casing sections carried in association with a liquid supply conduit, and wherein quickdetachable means are employed in detachably uniting said casing sections in a manner permitting ready separation or disassembly thereof for inspection purposes.

In the accompanyingdrawing, an example of the spray nozzle of this invention is illustrated but details thereof may vary without departing from the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional through a. tank showing a permanent-type spray cleaning system associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the spray heads and associated supporting conduit;

Fig. 3 is a detail of locking elements used in association with the separable parts of the spray head;

Fig. 3a is a plan view of the split washer used in the locking assembly shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the spray head showing a diiferent type of lock for the separable parts thereof;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing the locking ar rangement of Fig. 4.

With reference to the drawing, in Fig. 1 there is illustrated a tank 10 in which is insulated a spray cleaning nozzle formed in accordance with. the present invention.

2,895,688 Patented July 21, 1959 2 This tank 10 may be employed as a reservoir for various liquids, for example, it may be a tank used in a dairy for storing milk. The tank is shown as being of substantially cylindrical form and has an inlet 11 for the milk and an outlet 12. A manhole 13 is provided in one end of the tank for access to the interior thereof.

The spray cleaning system is shown as including a supporting and supply conduit 14 of T-form. The ver-. tical portion of this conduit is mounted in any suitable manner within a socket connector 15 provided in the top of the tank 10 so that the horizontal arms 16 thereof are disposed in a predetermined position within the tank adjacent to but in spaced relationship to the top thereof.

The upper extremity of the T-member 14 is provided with a detachable coupling 17 for coupling to a hose 18 which is connected to the pressure side of a recirculating pump P. The suction side of this pump is c0nnected by a coupling 19 to the tank outlet 12. Detergents or other chemicals or cleansing liquids may, for example, be supplied to the system through an inlet branch coupling 20 connected to the suction side of the pump. Thus, a cleansing or sterilizing liquid, which is initially supplied to the system through the inlet 20, will be pumped through the line 18 to the spraying device, which includes the T-member 14. The sprayed liquid will collect in the bottom of the tank 10 and will be recirculated through the system, since it will be withdrawn from the tank by the pump through the outlet 12.

As previously indicated, the spraying system includes spraying heads of novel construction and in Fig. 1 two of these spraying heads 21 are shown. These heads 21 are associated with the supporting T-member 14 in a novel manner. The specific structure of each spraying head and associated supporting conduit 14 is illustrated best in Fig.2.

a As shownin Fig. 2, one of the horizontal arms 16 of the T-conduit 14 is provided with a shell-like fixed section 22 ofthe-spraying head. This section 22 is of hemispherical form and is, formed as a continuation" of the horizontal. conduit arm 16, preferably being integral therewith. This hemispherical fixed section 22, in the example shown, is directed upwardly and outwardly. This section is preferably imperforate, with the exception of a small drain opening 42 formed in the lowermost region of the section 22. The imperforate fixed section 22 is designed to receive a complemental removable hemispherical, shell-like section 23. This section 23 is provided with a shouldered inner edge 24 which interfits with acomplemental shouldered outer edge 25 on the fixed section 22. These cooperating edges are machined so that they will form a substantially flush fit, while at the same time permitting a limited amount of leakage to insure self cleaning of the joint between the com.- plemental sections 22 and 23. The removable section 23 of thevspherical spraying head 21 is provided with a plurality of spaced spray openings or orifices 26 extending therethr'ough and arranged in the desired manner to obtain a predetermined spray pattern. For example, in the application shown in Fig. 1, it is desirable that each spray head provided an upwardly and outwardly directed spray pattern so as to spray the top and ends of the tank 10. The spray liquid will run down the remaining portions of the ends and sides of the tank and on its bottom so that 'the complete areas of the inner surfaces of the tank will be covered.

For normally locking the removable perforate hemispherical section 23 on the fixed hemispherical section 22, various locking arrangements may be provided. In Fig. 2, there is illustrated a locking arrangement comprising a rod 27 which extends diametrically through both sections 22 and 23. As shown in Fig. 3, one end of this locking rod 27 is provided with an annular groove 28 which receives a U-shape stop washer 29. The opposite end of this rod carries a pivoted cam lever 30. The rod 27 is passed through opposed openings in the two sections 22 and 23 and the washer 29 is applied.) Then, the cam lever 30 is swung inwardly from the broken line position indicated in Fig. 3 to the full line'position; as illustrated to pull and hold the section 23 against. the section 22. The locking arrangement can be quickly released by moving the lever 30 outwardly with respazt to the section 22 and then the washer 29 can be removed to permit complete withdrawal of the rod 27. Thus, the section 23 is completely and readily removable from the section 22 to provide for unobstructed access to and visual inspection of the interior surfaces of the sections 22 and 23 and the branch conduits 16. I

Figs. 4 and 5 show a difierent type of locking arrangemerit. In this instance, a locking bail 27a is pivoted to the removable hemispherical section 2311 at opposed points 31 adjacent the edge thereof. This-bail 27a is swingable into association with a locking boss 32 on the fixed hemispherical section 22a, which boss is in substantially the same transverse plane as the pivot points 31 of the bail 27a. The bail 27a is provided with a cam lug 33 which engages the boss 32. Thus, with this arrangement, complete removal of the hemispherical inember 23a from the section 2221 is permitted along with the locking bail 27a. I

In most installations, it is preferable to" use the spray heads 21 in multiples of two opposed spray heads to provide for more etficient coverage of the interior tank surfaces to be cleaned. Where two spray heads are pro vided; as shown in Fig. 1, the sections 23 thereof may be removed for visual inspection through one of the fixed head sections 22, through both horizontal conduit arms 16, and out through the other fixed spray head sec tion 22. If desired, a brush or inspection probe device may be passed downwardly through the vertical portion of the T-member 14 by removing the hose 18 at the coupling 17. Thus, complete internal inspection of the spray heads and associated conduits is possible. 7

For the purpose of ready and easy visual inspection; it is important that the fixed section 22 of the spherical head be so positioned as not to obstruct a line of vision axially through the conduit 16 and the fixed sections.- Although this invention is not limited to an exact spherical contour for the spray heads-, it is preferred that these heads be of curved sections closely app'ieach': ing the spherical in order to attain the desired direction of liquid discharge from the sections 22 out through the perforations 26 of the sections 23 so to obtain the desired spray patterns. These spray patterns can be varied by diiferent arrangements of the perforations 26. The fixed section will always have a wide mouth disposed at an angle to the axis of the conduit and this mouth will be of greater area than the eross-seetional area of the conduit and will overlap that area.

It will thus be apparent that this invention provides improved spray nozzle construction particularly adapted for use in conjunction with permanently installed, re-

circulating-type tank cleaning systems.

' me'iit with said conduit; the open mouth of said first section defining; a; considerably largerarea than the crosssectional area of said conduit and lying in a plane acutely angular to the axis of said conduit and overlying the cross-sectional area of said conduit, whereby to permit unobstructed visual inspection of the interior surfaces of said first section and axial access to said length of conduiti ase cond shell-like section of substantially identical shape and site as said first section disposed in edgeabutting closing relation to the open mouth of said first section; and manually operable, quick-releasable means detachab li} connecting said sections and operable to maintain the same in edge-abutting relation.

2. spf'ay nozne as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said spray head sections are of hemispherical shape.

3: A spray nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said second section is perforated throughout substantially its full area. 7 I

4. A spi'ay nozzle for liquid storage tanks comprising a straight length of conduit; a substantially spherical, hollow nozzl device disposed at an end of said conduit and composed of two relatively separable and abutting hemispherieal sections, one of said sections being fixed to said conduit, the other of said sections being perfamed throughout substantially its full arca both of said sections being formed with relatively adjoining, open mouths disposed in a plan acutely angular to the axis of said conduit and the mouths of said sections being of larger diameter than said conduit and overlying the latter, whereby said sections may be separated to provide unobstriit'e'd visual access to interior surfaces of said sections and aiially of said conduit; and quick-releasable clamping joining said sections and operable to releasably Hold the same in edge-abutting relation.

References Cited in the file of patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,156 

